Why 'Moana' is a must-see for Digital Influencers.

Ok, so hear me out on this one!

I  had no expectations of this film. I watched it as a way to spend time with family and switch-off. I dressed up a little and put make up on to make myself feel a little better. It was going to be a lovely calm morning out, oui?

Ohhhhhhh my goodness, make-up was a big mistake!

Ten minutes in and I was uncontrollably crying already - again, please hear me out!

This was no girl-on-her-period-once-again-crys-at-a-Disney-film scenario, I promise.

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As someone who grew up wanting to slay the dragons and wear a princess dress, go on the quests 'and' get the guy at the end, bla bla, Mulan, Esmerelda and probably Tinkerbell - are the only female Disney protagonists that I ever truly identified with growing up. They had happy endings - in the Disney films - and they got in on the action.

Now, what relevance does any of this have with digital influencers?

Well, having watched - and cried my eyes out for most of - Moana, I can safely say this has a real, tangible message for everyone. One that, if I had one, I would be so so happy my child was being exposed to.

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"I wish I could be the perfect daughter But I come back to the water No matter how hard I try"

There is such a standard that we must be 'perfect' in all that we do, in school, work, relationships and online!

However, can I be real in saying that 'being the perfect online influencer' is SO untangible, demotivating and quite honestly: stressful AF.

I got into YouTube and social media because it was a bit of fun, a quiet area of the internet where some creatives played around with cameras and spoke to people they wouldn't normally have - especially if they lived overseas.

With the taking off of online media in the last couple of years or so however, there has definitely been a bar that has been raised.

Now I'm not saying that that bar shouldn't be there.

I was super happy when I saw my favourite influencers gain recognition outside the YouTube world! And personally I love a challenge and making game plan.

I do worry though that the internet game has caused yet another set of - quite honestly unnecessary - standards though.

I have noticed that some influencers are burning out because they do not have the time to get all their content together, some see others are making success out of something that 'looks easy' and a worrying few - who have the ideas - are too scared to start because they don't think they will be fit in/be good enough/be able to keep up.

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"But I come back to the water No matter how hard I try

Every turn I take Every trail I track Every path I make Every road leads back to the place I know Where I cannot go Where I long to be

See the light where the sky meets the sea It calls me"

The internet world is an awesome one if you choose it, and so I am telling you to look at this: what do you constantly find yourself thinking about or wishing you could do?

For me, it's travel, write, make videos and talk to people. Oo and learn!

No matter all the day jobs I try or the 'safe' steps I take, I always come back to travel, writing, making videos, talking to people and oo! Learning.

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"See the light where the sky meets the sea It calls me No one knows how far it goes If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me One day I'll know If I go there's just no telling how far I'll go"

Now this is the part that scares me.

The digital world is not something that has been mapped out for us before, so no one knows what to do with it. And I won't lie to you, dear reader, I am terrified of what I could do with it. I am nervous of how awesome it could be!

But! Just Moana does, in trusting in myself, my ability and life itself, the steps will fall into place.

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"But the voice inside sings a different song What is wrong with me"

It was so interesting for me because for years I felt out of place. I never thought I was good enough because my dreams and desires didn't fit into a box. I wanted to go to uni but I didn't want to do anything academic. I didn't want to become a teacher, a doctor, go into a life that everyone could understand.

So I felt for ages I thought there was something wrong with me because I didn't fit 'the island role'.

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"See the light as it shines on the sea It's blinding But no one knows how deep it goes And it seems like it's calling out to me So come find me And let me know What's beyond that line"

Moana, a girl who just wants to travel, have adventures and be a good leader, listens to her heart and restores balance in her world.

And that is my message for you, digital influencer, do you have balance in your world?

Do you listen to your inner voice? What are your instincts? Are you really creating the content that lights your heart up and projects who you are as your wonderful Self?

Do you have confidence in your abilities? Do you trust you don't have to know what you're doing write now and that's ok? Because you will figure it out as you go along.

Moana as a film is a perfect example of the importance of listening to your heart and doing what is right for your life - however that looks. From experience, I can tell you now that you won't have balance until you give into what makes your heart sing.

Now, that is not to say we don't all have circumstances, obligations and responsibilities that we are dealing with - again, however that looks. I am not completely unaware of the world. I am a coach after all.

But it can be simple.

What calls you, no matter how hard you try to resist or think you shouldn't be listening to?

Whether it's looking at the content you're creating, taking some time out for yourself or looking at your life path, which water do you always come back to no matter how hard you try?

Han x